Collis Birmingham 10th in world indoor 3000m championship

BALLARAT'S Collis Birmingham finished 10th in the 3000m final in the IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships in Poland early this morning,

He ran seven minutes, 57.55 seconds in the 12-strong field in Sopot.

Kenyan Caleb Mwangangi Nidiku won in 7:54.94.

Athletics Australia reports Birmingham's performance is the third best ever by an Australian in the 3000m at the world indoors.

It equalled the effort of Craig Mottram in 2004.

EARLIER, Birmingham wrote about his excitement about competing in the final.

The Ballarat athlete quickly took to social media site Twitter at the weekend after making his world indoor track and field debut, lining up alongside fellow Nic Bideau-coached athlete, Britain’s Andy Vernon.

“Enjoyed my first run on the boards. Glad I get to go round again in two days! Thanks for the pre race laughs @AndyVernonGB, great run!” Birmingham wrote.

Birmingham finished sixth in his heat on Friday night and, with top four heat placings advancing to the final, advanced to this morning’s final as one of the next fastest four qualifiers.

His final was set to run at 2.10am today (Ballarat time).

The Ballarat athlete clocked an indoor 3000m personal best of seven minutes, 46.15 seconds in heat one in Sopot.

Reigning world indoor champion Kenyan Augustine Kiprono Choge topped the heat in a time of 7:44.85 – a time beaten by all six qualifiers in heat two, which was won by Kenyan Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku in 7:42.75.